Fire-escape



(No Model.)

D. B. KIMBALL.

FIRE ESCAPE. No. 342,108. Patented May 18, 1886.

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Fl RE ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 342,108, dated May 18,1886.

Application filed October 8, 1885.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL B. KIMBALL, of San Francisco, in the countyof San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Fire- Escapes, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description.

This invention consists in a portable fireescape composed of a suitableframe upon which is mounted a series of cog-wheels and acloek-escapement, to govern the speed of the escape-belt from a drum,and by which the person is to be lowered from a building.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the mechanism composing myimproved fire-escape, one side of the frame thereof being removed toshow the operating mechanism. Fig. 2 is an edge View of the fire-escape,showing the escapebelt drum and coiled spring in section. Fig. 3 is aside elevation of the notched edge of the drum around which theescape-belt is to be wound.

Figs. 1 and 2in the accompanying drawings represent the frame of myimproved fire-es cape, consisting of two side plates, A, with connectingcrossbars 13. Between the side plates, A, on suitable shafts supportedin bearings in the frame, is arranged a series of cog-wheels, G, andpinions D, together with an ordinary elock-escapement, F, by which thespeed of the escape-belt G is to be governed in being unwound from adrum II, also mounted 011 a shaft in the frame A. This drum H consistsof a cylinder having a recessed center, within which is placed a coiledspring, I, by the action of which the escape-belt G is to be wound onthe outside of the cylinder, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The drum II is mounted so as to revolve loosely upon a shaft, J, alsosupported in bearings in the frame A. To this shaft J is firmly secureda side plate, K, which, together with a projecting flange, L, on thedrum, serves to guide the escape-belt while being wound upon and unwoundfrom the drum and to main- Serial No. 179,338. (No model.)

. tain it in position thereon. The hub of this side plate, K, is formedinto a pinion, M, from which motion is imparted to the system ofgearing} and to the clock-escape mechanism by which the belt G is to beunwound from the drum H at the required speed to lower a person from abuilding in safety. To the inner face of the rotating side plate, K, issecured a pawl, N, which takes into a notch, 0,, formed on the edge ofthe drum 11, so that when weight is applied to the belt G the plate Kwill be revolved in the direction of the ar row, Fig. 1, and by means ofthe pinion M up on its hub will set the cog-gearing and escape mechanismin motion, and as the escape-belt G is unwound from the exterior of thedrum II the coiled spring I will be wound around the shaft J of thedrum, and when the belt G is relieved of its weight it will berewoundupon the drum by the action of the spring I, the pawl N ridingover the notch O in the edge of the drum in an opposite direction.

.To one end of the frame and to the cross bar B is secured a hook, R, bywhich the apparatus is to be secured to any convenient ob ject while thebelt G is being unwound from the drum.

To the end of the escape-belt is secured a loop, S, to which may beattached a basket sling, or other suitable device by which a person maybe supported while being lowered from a building.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

In a fire-escape constructed and operating substantially as hereindescribed, in combination with cog-gearing and clock-escape mech anismwhereby the escape-belt is permitted to be unwound slowly from the drumII, the side plate, K, pawl N, and coiled spring I, by which theescape-belt is rewound. upon the drum II independent of the cog-gearlng,and escape mechanism which remains at rest during the rewinding, as setforth.

DANIEL B. KIMBALL.

Vitnesses:

EDGAR Tarn, I J AMES M. HENLEY.

